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Carolina Cross Connection (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
In rural North Carolina, older adults faced unsafe steps and entryways that left them isolated and at risk of falls. Carolina Cross Connection mobilized nearly 600 youth campers to complete dozens of projects, building ramps, steps and handrails and improving yards for safety. These repairs restored independence and reduced isolation. One neighbor returned home from rehab after volunteers built a ramp, while another said, "These handrails are a blessing... now I can feed my cats and feel safe," showing how the effort transformed daily life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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La Crosse, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: As housing prices rise and homeowners age, many community members in La Crosse are forced to remain in homes that don't meet their needs. La Crosse Public Library staff hoped to help residents keep their homes and gardens maintained, so they launched a tool lending library. Now, residents can check out gardening and home improvement equipment, including ladders, saws, pressure washers and lightbulb changers. Organizers say allowing people to borrow tools helps them avoid pricey purchases and keep their homes from falling into disrepair. The initiative also complements home improvement training offered at the library. "Awesome resource for the community," one resident said of the lending program. "Many thanks for the hard work involved with setting this up and managing this special collection."
Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Rising home costs and unaffordable repairs left many older adults at risk of losing their homes. Habitat SKKC expanded its aging-in-place services through the CAPABLE program, combining home safety modifications with in-home support from an occupational therapist and nurse. Six homeowners received tailored plans and repairs, from grab bars to handrails, improving safety and independence. The program helps older adults remain in their homes for years, reducing health care costs and preserving community stability while scaling to serve more households.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Portland, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Unsafe housing and costly repairs threatened older adults' ability to age in place in Portland. REACH's Community Builders Program stepped in to complete major fixes, from replacing sewage pipes and restoring bathroom access to installing an ADA-height toilet and repairing roofs. Volunteers and subcontractors also cleared gutters and improved kitchen safety. These repairs eased financial strain and created healthier homes. "Your help allows us to continue to live independently," said one homeowner, reflecting the program's impact on stability and quality of life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Boone, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project will create murals inside tunnels along local walking and biking trails. Older residents will help select the art, which will celebrate the community's identity.
Hickory, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Residents in Hickory needed a clearer understanding of sidewalk gaps, unsafe crossings and the barriers faced by people using mobility devices. During the statewide Transportation Summit, BikeWalk led bike and walk audits that taught participants how to identify safety issues. The audits revealed problem areas downtown and near the Salt Block, and several attendees said the mobility roll audit opened their eyes to challenges wheelchair users encounter. The findings are expected to shape the design of the Olle Art Walk and guide future improvements to sidewalks and crossings as city projects move forward.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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